Gotu Kola side effects
Across 228 first-hand reports, people mentioned a side effect 10 times (about 4 per 100 reports). The most common: fatigue, vivid dreams, drowsiness. User reports show what people notice — they can't tell you whether Gotu Kola is safe for you.
Reported side effects
fatigue3
vivid dreams2
drowsiness2
part of1
headache1
withdrawal1
What got worse for some people
In their own words
“It did help me in the short term but, I don't think that targeting the gabaergic system is a good way to stop anxiety. Anything that targets this system will eventually cause rebound anxiety or dependency.”
“I feel like my skin is glowing on Gotu Kola...more than happy with what I am experiencing vs Honestly, I haven't noticed any benefits from it. It seems to negatively affect my sleep.”
“The gotu kola is similar. I take that before bed when I am on it as well. ... I experience a 'sleep like the dead for, say, 6 hours, then wake up and cannot go back to sleep' effect on Gotu Kola.”
“I have tried many (herbal) nootropics, the big ones being St. John's Wort, Gotu Kola, Bacopa, and Ginseng (most types). While they helped me with my academic side of life, they had practically no effect on my BPD symptoms.”
“I’ve tried Bacopa 24% & Gotu Kola but they haven’t helped in that regard”
Is Gotu Kola safe? What the research covers
BResearch: Moderate2 meta-analyses · 4 randomized trials on PubMed
None of the top reviews we found focus on safety. All research on Gotu Kola.